A Doncaster town centre cafe, once used by former pop star Louis Tomlinson to film a pop video, has closed after trading for more nearly 50 years near the market. The Minerva Cafe has closed down after trading sine the 1970s offering breakfasts and lunches to shoppers.
The shutters are now down on the shop, which has not now been used for two weeks, say neighbouring businesses. Minerva was well known for its big breakfasts which often earned rave reviews on the internet. It also had a celebrity link, having been used by the former One Direction star Louis Tomlinson for the shooting of his Back to You video, last year. Doncaster Council town center bosses confirmed they understood the cafe had closed down, but did not know the reason. Long serving Doncaster market trader Nigel Berrysaid he had seen no sign of activity at the cafe for two weeks. He said: It has been here in the market for such a long time. It’s been there since I first started on the market in 1971. People have commented to me it feels like it has been there forever.
“It is a shame to see it closed. It has been a bit of an institution round here.”
I came here on the 8th of February 2016, hungry but no alone – unaware of the Minerva’s popular cultural significance.
I just wanted a pie.
It came with chips peas and gravy – proper chips, proper tinned peas and an authentic plate pie pastry top and bottom, meaty minced meat filling.
My partner in crime had the full breakfast
We drank hot tea, chatted sporadically and ate the lot.
Table 16 aka table 22 – was more than satisfied.
The table was more than satisfactory a pale leatherette seated booth, with erratic homespun wood grain effects.
This was a place with hidden depths receding back from the entrance into deeper and deeper space.
And a proper regard for tea service etiquette – with no room for poor pouring stainless steel pragmatism.
But where are we now?
I returned on February 9th 2019 and the M was missing the Minerva was missing the shutters were down – ain’t nobody home.
No more pie, peas, chips and gravy no more full up upon full breakfasts.
No more Minerva, no more.
modernmooch.com 